Daniel c



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

DANIEL O. MCINTYRE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PETER N. JACOBSEN, JR, OF SAME PLACE.

GANG-PLANK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,209, dated April 22, 1890. Application filed September 3, 1889. Serial No. 322,828. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, DANIEL O. MCINTYRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gang-Planks; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de* scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention is designed to produce a gangplank for use on vessels of all kinds, and is adapted more particularly for use where trucks and the like are used to transfer on and off from the vessel.

The invention consists,chiefly, in so attaching the toe-boards to the main portion that they can be readily attached and detached, and so that they will readily adjust themselves to any inequalities of the surface of either the deck or dock or to the different heights between the deck and dock.

2 5 In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of my gang-plank. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with one of the toe-boards disconnected. Fig. 3 illustrates one advantage of my plank.

0 In carrying out myinvention, Arep'resents the main portion of my plank. This may be any desired form, may be constructed in any desired manner, and may be any desired length. The ends of this main portion are preferably beveled slightly, as at a, and the upper side is provided at the ends with eyes a, which are countersunk into the surface. These eyes are preferably formed in the ends of strap-irons a which are bent, as shown,

40 so as to give a broad bearing and to protect the adjacent edges of the wood. from wear.

B represents the toeboards, which are constructed in the usual manner and taper from the thickness of the main plank to a sharp edge. The butt-end is preferably beveled slightly, as at Z), and is provided with hooks 11', formed on the ends of the strap-irons b the latter being countersunk. These hooks b, entering the eyes a in the main portion, unite the two, so that they can be readily engaged or disengaged. The eyes being countersunk, the hooks are brought flush with the surface, so that a smooth way is made from the outer edge of one toe-board to the outer edge of the other. This manner'of uniting the toe-boards to the main portion enables the board to readily adjust itself to the varyin g distances between the heights of the deck and dock, and it insures the toe-boards and main portion always being in their relative positions with respect to each other, whether the plank, by the motion of the vessel, be moved lengthwise or sidewise. It also often happens that the edge of the dockis provided with a timber, as indicated at C in Fig. 3. By the bevel on the ends of the main portion and the toe-boards the latter are enabled to readily adjust and adapt themselves to thisirregular surface.

\Vhat I claim is- 7o 1. In a gang-plank for vessels, the combination, with the main portion, of toe-boards attached to one or both ends of the same, said toe-boards engaged to the main portion by hook-and-eye joints, substantially as described.

2. In a gang-plank for vessels, the combination, with the main portion, of toe-boards attached to one or both ends of the same, said toe-boards engaged to the main portion by hook-and-eye joints, the meeting faces between the ends of the main portion and the toe-boards being beveled, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL C. MCIN'IYRE.

Witnesses:

E. W. CHAPMAN, 'P. N. J ACOBSEN. 

